Identification of discriminant proteins through antibody profiling, methods and apparatus for identifying an individual

Abstract

A method for determining a plurality of proteins for discriminating and positively identifying an individual based from a biological sample. The method may include profiling a biological sample from a plurality of individuals against a protein array including a plurality of proteins. The protein array may include proteins attached to a support in a preselected pattern such that locations of the proteins are known. The biological sample may be contacted with the protein array such that a portion of antibodies in the biological sample reacts with and binds to the proteins forming immune complexes. A statistical analysis method, such as discriminant analysis, may be performed to determine discriminating proteins for distinguishing individuals. Proteins of interest may be used to form a protein array. Such a protein array may be used, for example, to compare a forensic sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protein array for identifying an individual comprising proteins immobilized on a support, wherein no more than about 200 proteins are in the array, wherein each protein is known, wherein each protein is immobilized at a known predetermined location on the support, and wherein each protein is useful in identifying an individual. 
     
     
       2. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein each of the proteins is immobilized on the support to form a spot having a diameter of greater than about at least 50 microns to form an array. 
     
     
       3. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proteins is one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-80, or a fragment thereof comprising an epitope. 
     
     
       4. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proteins is one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-45, or a fragment thereof comprising an epitope. 
     
     
       5. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein the array comprises each of the proteins of SEQ ID NOs: 1-80. 
     
     
       6. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein the array comprises each of the proteins of SEQ ID NOs: 1-45. 
     
     
       7. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein less than about 100 proteins are immobilized on the support. 
     
     
       8. The protein array of  claim 1 , wherein about from 45 to about 80 proteins are immobilized on the support. 
     
     
       9. A method for analyzing biological material having individual-specific antibodies, the method comprising:
 obtaining a sample of the biological material having individual-specific antibodies; 
 contacting the array of  claim 1  with the sample to bind at least a portion of the individual-specific antibodies to the multiple proteins of the array, to form immune complexes; 
 applying at least one detection agent to the array, the detection agent comprising at least one interacting protein conjugated to a marker to detect the immune complexes; 
 washing the support to remove non-immobilized individual-specific antibodies and the detection agent; and 
 detecting the immune complexes on the array to obtain an antibody profile. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein obtaining a sample of the biological material having individual-specific antibodies comprises obtaining a plurality of samples from each of a plurality of individuals. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein no more than about 100 proteins are in the array. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the proteins of the array has a spot diameter sufficient to be detected with a color scanner. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the proteins of the array has a spot diameter of at least 300 microns. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein obtaining a sample of a biological material comprises obtaining a sample of a biological material selected from the group of biological material consisting of tissue, blood, saliva, urine, perspiration, tears, semen, serum, plasma, amniotic fluid, pleural fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying at least one detection agent to the array comprises applying a detection agent comprising at least one interacting protein conjugated to at least one of a chemiluminescent marker, a fluorescent marker, and a colorigenic marker. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein detecting the immune complexes on the array to obtain an antibody profile comprises detecting at least one of a chemiluminescent marker, a fluorescent marker, and a colorigenic marker using a portable device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising comparing the antibody profile to a known antibody profile obtained from an individual. 
     
     
       18. A method for analyzing biological material comprising antibodies, the method comprising:
 obtaining a sample of a biological material comprising antibodies; 
 contacting the sample with the array of  claim 1  to bind at least a portion of the antibodies to the proteins to form immune complexes; 
 applying at least one detection agent to the array, the detection agent comprising at least one interacting protein conjugated to a marker to detect the immune complexes; 
 washing the support to remove non-immobilized antibodies and detection agent; and 
 detecting the immune complexes on the array, to obtain an antibody profile. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the proteins of the array is selected from Table 1 or Table 2. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising correlating the antibody profile to a single individual in a population of from about 1 million individuals to about 100 billion individuals. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein correlating the antibody profile to a single individual in a population of from about 1 million individuals to about 100 billion individuals comprises correlating the antibody profile to the single individual in a population of about 10 million individuals. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein correlating the antibody profile to a single individual in a population of from about 1 million individuals to about 100 billion individuals comprises correlating the antibody profile to an individual among a population of about 10 billion individuals. 
     
     
       23. A method of analyzing biological material from each of the plurality of individuals, comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of samples of a biological material from each of the plurality of individuals, each of the plurality of samples having individual-specific antibodies; 
 contacting the array of  claim 1  with each of the plurality of samples to bind at least a portion of the individual-specific antibodies to the multiple proteins of the array, to form immune complexes; 
 applying at least one detection agent to the array, the detection agent comprising at least one interacting protein conjugated to a marker to detect the immune complexes; 
 washing the support to remove non-immobilized individual-specific antibodies and detection agent; and 
 detecting the immune complexes on the array, to obtain an antibody profile. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising comparing the antibody profile obtained from each of the plurality of individuals to determine a relationship.